Riding game device



RIDING GAME DEVICE Filed May 22, 1961 INVENTORH David R. Pembndge Attorney United States Patent 3,199,367 REDIN DEVICE The present invention relates to hobby horses of the type consisting of a simple pole adapted for simulated ridin by a child and having a horses head attached to one end of the pole.

Those children that are amused by hobby horse poles are usually of very tender age and have short interest spans. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a hobby horse style game device which will hold the young childs interest and provide a continuing and renewable interest over a long period of time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game of the character above which makes use of a plurality of distinct playheads simulating a plurality of modes of transportation and which may be interchangeably mounted on the upper end of the hobby horse pole, and wherein the several playheads may be assembled in different mounting and viewing planes to afford an even wider variety of interesting visual effects and to most effectively display various modes of transportation, with certain of the heads.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which of the foregoing will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adapted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claim.

With reference to said drawing (one sheet):

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a game device constructed in accordance with the present invention and including a hobby horse pole and two interchangeable heads which are normally mounted in a vertical plane.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the game device including a hobby horse pole and two representative heads which are normally mounted and used in a horizontal plane.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the game device.

FIGURE 4 is a composite perspective View of several diiierent forms of the game device as used by players shown in phantom line.

The game device of the present invention consists briefly of a hobby horse pole 1 adapted for mounting between the legs of a child player; a plurality of distinct playheads simulating a plurality of modes of transportation such as a horses head 2, a side view of a boat 3, a top view of a boat 4, a top view of an airplane 5, etc.; and means interchangeably mounting the several heads on the normally upper end of the pole 1 in a common mounting and display position.

The hobby horse stick 1 is preferably made of wood or plastic, of generally circular cross-section, and of suitable length such that a small child can hold the upper end of the pole in his hands with the lower end passing between his legs and dragging on the ground; the arrangement simulating the child riding on the pole.

The various interchangeable heads are preferably made of stiff sheets made of paper, cardboard, plastic, or the like and cut to an outline to conform with the shape of various modes of transportation. The heads are appropriately pictured on the sheets and are preferably colored to more clearly indicate the particular mode of transportation. Various other objects such as a steering wheel,

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handle bars, or the like may be attached to the heads or to the pole to further simulate the real objects. A string or rope 6, for example, may be attached to the horses head 2 as bridle.

The concept or" the plurality of interchangeable heads ideally adapts the invention to exploitation as a premium item wherein the heads may be imprinted on the side of a package such as a box of cereal or the like, furnished as an inserted sheet into such a package or furnished at a modest cost on return of a box top request or the like.

Various means of attaching the heads to the pole may be utilized. A preferred form is shown in the drawing, FEGURES 1 through 3. The hobby horse pole 1 may be formed with a fiat mounting side 7 at its normally upper end and contiguous shoulder 5. A hole may be drilled through the fiat surface 7 and a bolt 9 passed therethrough. All of the distinct playheads have a fiat mounting surface adapted for face to face mounting on the fiat pole side 7, and have an edge, see edge 13 on head 3, arranged for abutment with the shoulder 3. In addition all of the heads are formed with openings 11 dimensioned for interchangeably mounting on the stud 9 and posi tinned to place edges 13 in non-rotative engagement with shoulder 8. A manually engageable nut 12 carried by the stud 9 may be used to secure a head on the pole 1.

In order to renew and hold the childs interest in the game device, some of the playheads are arranged for mounting in a substantially vertical plane such as horses head 2, and boat 3. Other heads are arranged for mounting in a horizontal plane such as boat 4 and plane 5. The pole 1 is rotatable in the hands of the player to orient and present properly the particular head carried by the pole l.

A single pole 1 provides a base for a number of interchangeable heads. A child can thus imagine that he is a cowboy by riding his hobby horse with the horses head, as at 14 and 15, a sailor by attaching a boat to his hobby horse pole, as at 16 and 17, a jet airplane pilot by attaching his jet plane head to the hobby horse pole as at 18, or any number of dilierent drivers, such as race track drivers, motor cyclists, a submariner, spaceman, elephant boy, etc.

I claim:

A game device comprising, a hobby horse pole adapted for mounting between the legs of a child player, a plurality of distinct flat sheet playheads picturing a plurality of modes of transportation and having edges formed to simulate the outline of the transportation pictured, at least one of said heads being arranged for mounting in a substantially vertical plane and another of said heads being arranged for mounting in an horizontal plane, and means provided on each of said sheets and on said pole for interchangeably mounting said heads on the normally upper end of said pole in a common mounting position, said pole being substantially symmetrical in cross-section rear- Wardly of said means on the pole and rotatable in the hands of the player to properly orient and present the particular head carried by said pole.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,726,626 9/29 Miller 46-201 X 2,545,155 3/51 Logan 46-17 2,709,589 5/55 Zubler et al. 272-1 2,791,867 5/57 Dasher 46-223 X 2,864,613 12/58 lorter 272-1 2,870,566 1/59 Hofier 46-223 X 3,042,399 7/62 Lewendowski 272-1 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner. 

